Gail Tessa Fruma Galasko

Dr. Galasko was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and attended Johannesburg Girls' High School before earning a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry and an M.Sc. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University). She then attended Queen Mary College, University of London (now Queen Mary University of London), where she earned her Ph.D. in Natural Products Chemistry, studying carotenoids under Professor B. C. L. Weedon, FRS.

Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Galasko completed postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where she developed a passion for receptors and cell signaling. At a time when much of this work was conducted within pharmacology departments, she became especially interested in insulin signaling.

Upon returning to South Africa, Dr. Galasko joined the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology at Wits University. There, she isolated a substance with anti-insulin activity, identifying it in multiple species, including bats, elephants, baboons, rats, and humans.

Around 1978, she spent a sabbatical with Dr. Joseph Larner at the University of Virginia. Dr. Larner believed that understanding how insulin works was essential to understanding and ultimately treating diabetes. Although he had been unsuccessful in isolating the insulin mediator, Dr. Galasko accomplished this for the first time using column chromatography. Dr. Larner later remarked that he "wouldn't have given her a wooden nickel" for her chances—but he believed in giving good ideas an opportunity. Further purification revealed that the active fraction contained two distinct mediators, which Dr. Larner and his colleagues continued to study. His pioneering work was subsequently recognized with two Nobel Prize nominations.

Dr. Galasko became fascinated by insulin mediators and continued to study their role in insulin signaling throughout her career.

From the University of Virginia, Dr. Galasko joined Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) as a professor of pharmacology, where she taught dental students. When she arrived, the department ranked near the bottom nationally. During her tenure, the pharmacology department rose into the nation's top five and was ranked as high as second. This remarkable improvement greatly enhanced students' performance on their pharmacology board examinations and increased their success in securing highly competitive graduate and specialty training programs, including oral surgery and orthodontics.

Dr. Galasko later joined the founding faculty of the Florida State University College of Medicine, serving as a Full Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

In addition to her academic career, Dr. Galasko served on numerous boards of nonprofit organizations and professional associations dedicated to environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and the well-being of others.

Dr. Galasko is survived by her brother, Charles S. B. Galasko, MBBCh, M.Sc. (Hons.), FRCS (Manchester, UK); her niece, Deborah Kaufmann (Israel); and her nephew, Gavin Galasko, BM, BCh, MA, DM (Oxon), FRCP (Manchester, UK) and her sister-in-law, Carol Galasko.She was predeceased by her parents, David Isaac Galasko, and Rose Anne Galasko.

She was also predeceased by her beloved dogs: Buster, Shakala, and Makushla, her German Shepherds from her years in South Africa, and Belle, Pumpkin, and Gumbo, cherished rescue dogs adopted through the ASPCA after moving to the United States.

Dr. Galasko wished to acknowledge the love and support of her many friends at Temple Israel in Tallahassee, especially her dear friends Claudia Blackburn, Joy Ellsworth, and Lala Clark, as well as her devoted caregivers, Camilla and Camilia, and Dr. Gail Bellamy (WV) who formed a circle of love and care around her during her final years.

A graveside service will be held on August 7, 2026 at 11am at Culley’s MeadowWood Memorial Park, 700 Timberlane Rd., Tallahassee. Shiva will be observed at Temple Israel, 2215 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee directly after the burial, followed by a meal of condolence. The family welcomes the support of our congregation during this time of mourning.

Zichrona livracha. May Gail's memory always be for a blessing.